What simple tool do both business coach and ADHD coach recommend to get projects completed?

In a recent conversation with my good friend and expert business coach Marcia Hoeck, we realized that we both use the same tool to help our clients to take action and complete projects. Can you guess what that is? Write lists! In the 21st century it’s hard to believe that something so simple can really be that effective, but it is.

Adults with ADHD find starting and carrying out projects from start to finish challenging. Often, the very thought of starting on a big project is very daunting and anxiety provoking, so it never gets started. A simple way to stop the procrastination and overwhelm is to write a list of all the steps.  Take a simple piece of paper and pen and write down all the steps that you can think of.

For example if you wanted to write a book, your list might look something like this:
1)      decide on a topic for the book.
2)      brain storm content ideas
3)      organize information into chapters
etc…

You might not know all of the steps at the start of the project, but once you start working on the tasks new information appears and the additional steps become more clear. If one of the steps on your list still feels daunting, then that is a sign that the step can be broken down further still.

When you have your list, you can type it up on your computer, stick it on the wall, or another safe place where you won’t lose it and then start on the first step. Once you have completed the first step you will feel so good and that ‘feel good factor’ will propel you forward to take action on the next step.

Because so many people with ADHD are entrepreneurs, Marica Hoeck and I have a website dedicated to this topic. Check it out at http://www.workingwithadhd.com/